Gop's High Ground Has Room For 3

FLORIDA POLITICS

Here's a challenge for the family-values Republicans running Tallahassee these days: Do something about Florida's obscene campaign-finance law.

Florida Senate President Toni Jennings has proposed some changes to a system that would help undo some of the so-called reforms lawmakers passed in 1996.

That was the year legislators expressed shock and dismay at the corruption surrounding campaigns. They solved the problem by legalizing the corruption.

Now contributors may give just $500 to candidates but may give unlimited amounts of money to the political parties. Then, amazingly, the parties may turn around and give as much as $50,000 to each statewide candidate.

On top of that, the parties may pay nearly all of a statewide candidate's campaign costs, from staffing to consultants. The parties also may spend unlimited amounts for ``three-pack'' ads.

The ads were envisioned as a way for a party to help a slate of candidates. In reality, though, they have been used to provide free advertising to a favored candidate. About 29 seconds of a 30-second three-pack television ad, for example, will mention one candidate. Then, two other candidates will be thrown in during the last second. The Republican Party mastered this loophole to perfection for Jeb Bush during his run for governor.

And lest anyone be accused of Republican-bashing, it is worth noting one of the more interesting uses of the three-pack ad loophole. In touting the gubernatorial campaign of Buddy MacKay, Democrats printed thousands of campaign signs. The names of MacKay and running mate Rick Dantzler were printed in large type and - in very, very fine print at the bottom - the names of two other candidates were tacked on.

The signs cost the MacKay-Dantzler campaign nothing.

Now Jennings, no babe in the woods when it comes to financing campaigns, enters the picture.

Her legislation could scale back future fund-raising by restricting individual contributions to political parties to $5,000 per year. She also would limit campaign advertising, restricting the use of the so-called three-pack television spots by making sure that one candidate didn't get a lion's share of the advertising time.

The trade-off?

Jennings would increase to $1,000 the maximum contribution that one person could give a statewide candidate. The parties also would be allowed to increase their contributions from $50,000 to $100,000 to a candidate.

And the parties still could pick up the office expenses of statewide candidates.

Jennings' proposal does not go far enough, but at least it's a start. It likely won't get far, though.

Republicans are rejoicing in the victories made possible by the state party's record $27 million fund-raising effort. Democrats raised and spent about $11 million. Bush and Florida House Speaker John Thrasher have been cool to the proposal. Why should Republicans ruin a good thing?

Well, because Democrats won't be inept forever. Eventually they will become more aggressive in their fund-raising.

Then Republicans will raise even more to stay ahead.

As the piles of cash continue to rise, so will public cynicism. The campaign process will be moved further away from the voters.

There is a game-within-the-game here, of course. By pushing this proposal, Jennings establishes herself as a power with whom Bush and Thrasher must reckon. Even if the measure does not pass, she is a winner because she is seizing the moral high ground.

Bush and Thrasher just might find that there is room for three on that high ground.